Process Development Scientist

Process Development Scientist – Pilot Plant

Location: Inarzo, Varese (IT)

SQIM co-designs with nature to develop cutting edge technologies and deliver naturally grown products with superior properties, employing fungal mycelium as its engineering and manufacturing platform, and serving its two verticals, Ephea and Mogu.

SQIM sets the grounds to design a new material world that is responsibly rooted in generative processes, as it is driven by the desire to literally engage with life and for life.

The resource will join the Ephea team, whose mission is to create a new class of biofabricated materials by means of fungal fermentation and to functionalize them through specific transformation processes for applications in the fashion sector and beyond.

Position Summary

We are seeking a scientifically driven Process Development Scientist to lead development activities at pilot scale while ensuring reliable and efficient operation of the pilot facility.

This role bridges R&D and Operations, combining experimental leadership with operational oversight. The position is responsible for maximizing pilot plant performance, delivering production output for commercial needs, and generating scale-relevant process knowledge to support long-term process optimization and scale-up.

Role Objectives

• Ensure reliable Pilot Plant Operation for production and experimental activities
• Maximize Pilot Plant capacity, quality, and process robustness
• Generate actionable insights to improve yield, cost, and scalability
• Lead and coordinate the pilot operations team
• Support scientific process development at pilot scale

Key Responsibilities

Scientific Process Development

• Design and execute pilot-scale experiments in collaboration with R&D
• Adapt laboratory findings to pilot-scale realities
• Evaluate process parameters to improve yield, productivity, and robustness
• Translate pilot observations into structured development feedback
• Propose improvement actions and validate them in collaboration with R&D to optimize processes

Pilot Operations & Production Oversight

• Ensure the Pilot Plant operates at optimal capacity and quality standards
• Oversee production runs, ensuring reliability and reproducibility
• Detect deviations, trends, and operational inefficiencies
• Balance experimental needs with production commitments
• Monitor and analyse production and quality data, identifying trends and preparing weekly analytical reports to support decision-making and process improvement

Team Leadership

• Coordinate and supervise pilot operators (shift planning, task allocation)
• Ensure proper execution of Standard Operating Procedures and data recording
• Foster a disciplined yet scientifically curious operating culture
• Train operators in cleanroom and process practices

Scale-Up & Knowledge Generation

• Identify scale-dependent behaviours emerging at pilot level
• Support technical risk assessment for future larger-scale implementation.
• Introduce new equipment and support production capacity upscale
• Contribute to long-term process robustness strategy

Educational Background

We are seeking candidates with a strong scientific and engineering foundation in biotechnology-driven production systems. Relevant academic backgrounds include Bioprocess Engineering, Biotechnology (with a focus on fermentation), Biochemical Engineering, Industrial Microbiology, Applied Mycology, Chemical Engineering (with biotechnology specialization), Food Engineering (fermentation background), or Synthetic Biology with hands-on scale-up experience.

Professional Profile & Previous experience

The ideal candidate is a bioprocess scientist with hands-on experience in fungal fermentation who has operated pilot or demonstration-scale equipment and thrives in troubleshooting complex biological systems.

This person has practical experience in scaling fermentation processes, optimizing performance, and translating laboratory insights into operational reality.

Experience within industrial fermentation environments is highly valued, including enzyme manufacturing companies, fermentation-based food producers, precision fermentation startups, or applied research institutes and scale-up facilities.

The successful candidate will take scientific ownership of the pilot plant, ensuring it both delivers product and continuously generates learning. The role requires balancing operational reliability with experimentation, data-driven process improvement, and technical decision-making in a real industrial environment.

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Strong expertise in bioprocess engineering principles
• Working knowledge of cleanroom environments, including operational procedures, documentation, good manufacturing/laboratory practices, and adherence to relevant regulatory and quality standards.
• Hands-on experience with pilot-scale bioreactors and process control systems
• Solid understanding of scale-up from laboratory to pilot environment
• Experience in process optimization and performance monitoring
• Competence in analysing biological and production data to support decision-making
• Understanding of health, safety, and operational standards in industrial settings
• Structured and analytical problem-solving approach
• Ability to translate experimental insights into operational improvements
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability
• Comfort operating in dynamic, evolving environments with a hands-on, pragmatic attitude
• Resilience under operational pressure and ability to prioritize effectively
• Clear and effective communication of technical concepts to cross-functional stakeholders
• Natural technical leadership and collaborative mindset
• Curiosity and continuous improvement orientation
• Professional proficiency in both Italian and English is required

Please apply to this job opportunity by sharing all needed documentation, including your CV, Motivation Letter and/or any other supporting material that you’d consider suitable, with